So. After a first week filled with surprised and/or revelations, the big brutal test is about to come. One of my most anticipated days of racing of the year.
Let's get this show started:
The stage has virtually no flat sections and contains a total of 4950m of climbing. This is one of the most brutal stages in recent GT history, especially considering the altitute that this takes place at. The lowest point of the race will be at 900m above sea level, and the highest point will be at the summit finish of 2095m.
To start things off, the riders will face the Collada de Beixalis. This climb comes right off the bat and measures in at 6.5k @ 8.7% from where the official climb starts, but if you consider the rise all the way from Andorra la Vella the climb is harsher. Expect the autobus to form extremely early on this climb, especially if the weather turns out to be harsh.
A fairly normal descent down to the village of La Massana ensues. It has a fair amount of twists and turns, but nothing probably nothing that will see and major contenders risk anything.
After a bit of false flat it's time for the next climb, the Coll d'Ordino, which according to the Vuelta profiles measuring in at 9.9km @ 7.1%. This is a very smooth climb with few irregularities, and should go by fairly smootly. The profile:
After this climb, there will be a very long descent down towards Canillo and then back towards Andorra la Vella. This might give any escapees time to strengthen their gap, especially if only few in the group of favorites are willing to pull at the front.
After passing the capital the riders will continue south and slightly downhill until they reach Sant Julià de Lòria. From here they will hit the third climb of the day, the Coll de la Rabassa. The climb has its steepest parts at the base, except for the few hundred metres of downhill after a few km into the climb. It's still very respectable at 13.9km @ 6.7%. Profile:
Following this climb is a rather tricky descent down back to Sant Julià de Lòria from where they will almost immediately start the next climb, the Collada de la Gallina. Being the only ESP category climb of the day, it certainly does live up to the expectations with a sick 11.7km @ 8.6%. The Vuelta profile doesn't quite show the difficulty of this climb, but this profile does it more justice:
Nothing is likely to happen in the descent if some favorites stay together. Gaps are not likely to be made on the descent back to Andorra la Vella from here, but if there are already gaps, some riders may lose time - especially if the road is wet. But instead of going straight into the capital once again, we will take a detour to the Alto de la Cornella. The easiest climb of the day at 4km @ 9.3%, it still is a very tough climb.
The riders are probably most likely to wait until the final climb to finish each other off though. This climb is the Alto Els Cortals d'Encamp. At 8.5km @ 9.4%, this climb is nothing to mess with. Sadly, the climb has its steepest parts in the beginning of the climb, but still finishes at a near 2100 metres. A grueling finish to an already grueling day. The profile:
Weather
Forecasts show medium amounts of rain as I write this. If it gets really wet and slippery, there can be carnage.
Standings
TOP 10 GC:
1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 38:34:56
2 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:57
3 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:00:59
4 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky 0:01:07
5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:01:13
6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:17
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
8 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:01:18
9 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:01:47
10 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:52
This stage has huge implication for the GC. Tom D needs to keep his own tempo and limit his losses as much as he can, because he knows he can beat all of these guys (except maybe Froome) very comfortably in the ITT.
Rodriguez is racing on home turf, he knows these roads very well and has to use this to his advantage. He quite simply has to take time on a lot of his rivals today to stay relevant to the top 3 in the GC battle.
The Movistar duo hasn't been looking as good as they did during the Tour either, and neither has Froome, despite his excellent showing on Stage 9.
Meanwhile, the boys that raced the Giro, Aru and Pozzovivo have to be looking to this stage to make up time on their main rivals if they are going to figure in the overall battle. Majka has also been looking strong and is looking forward to this stage.
No matter what happens, expect the GC to be totally shaken up by the end of this stage.
Oh, and Omar Fraile to go on the attack for some mountain points.
Let's get this show started:
The stage has virtually no flat sections and contains a total of 4950m of climbing. This is one of the most brutal stages in recent GT history, especially considering the altitute that this takes place at. The lowest point of the race will be at 900m above sea level, and the highest point will be at the summit finish of 2095m.
To start things off, the riders will face the Collada de Beixalis. This climb comes right off the bat and measures in at 6.5k @ 8.7% from where the official climb starts, but if you consider the rise all the way from Andorra la Vella the climb is harsher. Expect the autobus to form extremely early on this climb, especially if the weather turns out to be harsh.
A fairly normal descent down to the village of La Massana ensues. It has a fair amount of twists and turns, but nothing probably nothing that will see and major contenders risk anything.
After a bit of false flat it's time for the next climb, the Coll d'Ordino, which according to the Vuelta profiles measuring in at 9.9km @ 7.1%. This is a very smooth climb with few irregularities, and should go by fairly smootly. The profile:
After this climb, there will be a very long descent down towards Canillo and then back towards Andorra la Vella. This might give any escapees time to strengthen their gap, especially if only few in the group of favorites are willing to pull at the front.
After passing the capital the riders will continue south and slightly downhill until they reach Sant Julià de Lòria. From here they will hit the third climb of the day, the Coll de la Rabassa. The climb has its steepest parts at the base, except for the few hundred metres of downhill after a few km into the climb. It's still very respectable at 13.9km @ 6.7%. Profile:
Following this climb is a rather tricky descent down back to Sant Julià de Lòria from where they will almost immediately start the next climb, the Collada de la Gallina. Being the only ESP category climb of the day, it certainly does live up to the expectations with a sick 11.7km @ 8.6%. The Vuelta profile doesn't quite show the difficulty of this climb, but this profile does it more justice:
Nothing is likely to happen in the descent if some favorites stay together. Gaps are not likely to be made on the descent back to Andorra la Vella from here, but if there are already gaps, some riders may lose time - especially if the road is wet. But instead of going straight into the capital once again, we will take a detour to the Alto de la Cornella. The easiest climb of the day at 4km @ 9.3%, it still is a very tough climb.
The riders are probably most likely to wait until the final climb to finish each other off though. This climb is the Alto Els Cortals d'Encamp. At 8.5km @ 9.4%, this climb is nothing to mess with. Sadly, the climb has its steepest parts in the beginning of the climb, but still finishes at a near 2100 metres. A grueling finish to an already grueling day. The profile:
Weather
Forecasts show medium amounts of rain as I write this. If it gets really wet and slippery, there can be carnage.
Standings
TOP 10 GC:
1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 38:34:56
2 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:57
3 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:00:59
4 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky 0:01:07
5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:01:13
6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:17
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
8 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:01:18
9 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:01:47
10 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:52
This stage has huge implication for the GC. Tom D needs to keep his own tempo and limit his losses as much as he can, because he knows he can beat all of these guys (except maybe Froome) very comfortably in the ITT.
Rodriguez is racing on home turf, he knows these roads very well and has to use this to his advantage. He quite simply has to take time on a lot of his rivals today to stay relevant to the top 3 in the GC battle.
The Movistar duo hasn't been looking as good as they did during the Tour either, and neither has Froome, despite his excellent showing on Stage 9.
Meanwhile, the boys that raced the Giro, Aru and Pozzovivo have to be looking to this stage to make up time on their main rivals if they are going to figure in the overall battle. Majka has also been looking strong and is looking forward to this stage.
No matter what happens, expect the GC to be totally shaken up by the end of this stage.
Oh, and Omar Fraile to go on the attack for some mountain points.
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